Page 27 of Zinnia and the Zombie (Alien Abduction #26)
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
T he stars streaked past the viewport in hypnotic ribbons of light as Zinnia curled into the window seat of their cabin.
“What are you thinking?” Jaxx asked as he came to join her, his golden skin warm in the dim cabin light.
She smiled, leaning against his solid shoulder. “I’m just wondering what the future holds.”
“Are you worried about it?”
“No,” she said truthfully. “I know we don’t know what’s going to happen, but we’ve made it this far. I think we’re going to have a happy life together.”
His arm came around her, drawing her closer.
“We will,” he said firmly.
The trip to Kaisar aboard The Dancing Lady had proven to be more enjoyable than she’d expected.
Faith was almost frighteningly intelligent, but she was also very friendly and genuinely interested in everything that had happened to Zinnia.
They spent a good deal of time in Faith’s lab talking about plants.
Faith also filled her in on the Kaisarian Empire and the political situation.
Athtar was more than willing to share his own, much more biased, opinions but she’d quickly learned that his bark was much worse than his bite.
“He just misses his Precious,” Faith teased when he was ranting profanely about taxes one night.
“His Precious?”
“His puppy,” Faith said innocently, and Athtar growled at her.
“She’s a Pardorian war beast.”
“Why didn’t you bring her with you?” she asked and Faith sighed.
“We left her with the children. She’d never let anything happen to them. Of course, we didn’t know we’d be away this long.”
“Fucking Doren. And I miss the children just as much,” Athtar said.
“You have children?” she asked, looking from Faith to her huge mate.
“Two of them. And next time, we’re not leaving them behind,” Faith said firmly, but her lip quivered.
“No, we’re fucking not.” Athtar rose and scooped Faith up into his arms. “Come on, baby. I know how to cheer you up.”
The two of them disappeared and she smiled at Jaxx.
“It appears we’ve been deserted.”
“Do you need cheering up as well, my Zinnia?”
“Definitely,” she said, and he carried her off as well.
Athtar and Jaxx had also developed a friendship.
Unfortunately part of that friendship involved what Athtar called training exercises but looked to her like straight out combat.
Even though Jaxx could more than hold his own, she couldn’t stand to watch them—although they seemed to bring out Jaxx’s warrior side in the most delicious way afterwards.
But now the journey was coming to an end. They would reach Kaisar the following day, and in spite of her overall confidence about the future, she found the thought of meeting an emperor extremely intimidating.
“I’m terrified,” she told Jaxx with a rueful smile. “I’m a florist from a backwater town on a backwater planet. I have no idea how to talk to an emperor.”
“You’ll speak with the same honesty and courage you’ve shown since the day I met you,” he said firmly.
She leaned into him, drawing strength from his certainty. “I’ve never even been to a big city on Earth. Now I’m going to an entire planet that’s basically one giant capital.”
“And you’ll adapt, as you have to everything else.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re stronger than you know, my Zinnia.”
“I love you, my zombie.”
“I love you too.”
The next morning Faith offered her a formal gown. “You don’t have to wear it, but I thought it might make you more comfortable.”
She eyed the elegant gown nervously. It was beautiful—a flowing creation of deep green silk—but also intimidating in its elegance.
“I’ll probably trip on the hem and fall flat on my face in front of the Emperor,” she muttered.
Faith laughed. “You won’t. And even if you did, you wouldn’t be the first. I must have done it half a dozen times by now.”
The story made her feel marginally better, but as they approached Kaisar, her anxiety returned in full force.
“Oh, my God,” she breathed, pressing her hands against the viewport.
Most of the planet was covered by one large landmass, and that area was covered by what appeared to be one large city. It was more intimidating than attractive, despite the elaborate decorations that grew visible as they descended.
As they landed on a designated platform, she nervously smoothed her hands over the silk of her gown.
“I don’t think I belong here,” she whispered.
“You belong wherever you choose to be,” Jaxx said firmly. “And I belong with you.”
She took a deep breath and nodded.
Faith and Athtar joined them as the ship powered down.
“Ready?” Faith asked sympathetically.
“As I’ll ever be,” she said.
The ship’s ramp lowered with a soft hiss, revealing the landing platform. She had expected an intimidating array of officials. Instead, a single figure awaited them—a tall elegant male with blue skin and long white hair.
“Fucking Tanaca,” Athtar muttered. “I should have known.”
The other male had to have heard Athtar, but his cool expression didn’t change in the slightest. Ignoring the captain, he bowed and introduced himself.
“Welcome Commander Jaxxlariat, Mistress Zinnia. I am Senior Advisor Tanaca. Please accompany me to meet with the Emperor.”
It was phrased as a request, but it was clearly a command.
“Wait a fucking minute,” Athtar said. “I brought you a fucking present—for the right price, of course.”
Tanaca’s eyes flicked the Grorn ship tethered to The Dancing Lady .
“I believe your so-called present is now in Imperial territory. Why should I pay for it?”
Athtar’s teeth flashed white.
“Because if you don’t, that ship will fucking explode?”
What? She took a nervous step back, but Faith winked at her.
“You know what my mate can do, Tanaca,” Athtar added cheerfully as Tanaca’s face turned to stone. He looked decidedly dangerous, but Athtar didn’t seem bothered.
Tanaca took one glance at Faith, then nodded.
“Where do you want the funds deposited?” he asked icily
“In my fucking account, of course. Which you know from our previous transactions.”
Athtar beamed as Tanaca pulled a small device out of his robe and made a quick entry.
“Don’t worry,” Faith said softly. “Doren will get the credits.”
“Minus a small commission,” Athtar added as Tanaca completed the transaction.
To her surprise, Tanaca didn’t immediately turn to leave. Instead he looked at Faith again.
“Are you joining us?”
“I’m afraid not. Please give Ella my apologies, but we’ve been away from Sherae too long. We’ll bring the children for a long visit in a few months.”
“I am sure she will look forward to your visit,” Tanaca said politely, and bowed to Faith. Completely ignoring Athtar, he indicated that she and Jaxx should come with him, but she turned to give Faith a quick hug first.
Faith hugged her back.
“We’ll stay in touch,” she whispered. “You’re not alone in this anymore.”
Athtar and Jaxx clasped each other’s arms as well, before Athtar gave Tanaca a mocking salute and swept Faith back on board.
She gave Tanaca a nervous glance, expecting to see the icy look on his face, but instead he looked almost amused.
“You’re not angry?” she asked impulsively.
“No. I knew he was bringing the Grorn ship and I expected to pay for it.”
“You were playing with him?”
Tanaca shrugged.
“I saw no reason to make it easy for him. Although I should have anticipated the threat to blow it up.”
“You believed him?”
He raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t? Lady Faith is a very dangerous female.”
She was still trying to decide how she felt about that when he turned to lead the way into the palace.
They passed through a series of grand halls, each more impressive than the last. An astonishing variety of aliens moved through the halls, all of them arrayed in elaborate finery and she breathed a silent prayer of thanks for Faith’s foresight.
No one stared openly at them, but she caught a number of curious glances from the corner of her eye.
Finally, they reached a set of massive doors carved from some pale, luminous wood. Intricate patterns flowed across the surface—constellations, she realized. A map of the known universe, rendered in breathtaking detail.
Two huge bull-like aliens stood guard on either side. Their bodies were covered with short brown fur and large horns added to their already impressive stature. She did her best not to stare as she shrank a little closer to Jaxx.
“The Emperor is expecting us,” Tanaca said, and one of the guards bowed and opened the doors.
Several more corridors followed and she was beginning to wonder if they would ever reach their destination when they stopped in front of another set of doors and another guard.
They stepped through into a large room with an enormous inlaid table dominating the center.
Chairs were arranged around it, but no one was sitting at the table.
The three other people in the room were standing by a window opening onto a formal garden.
An exquisitely manicured vista of moss and rock and a few perfectly placed flowers that was both beautiful and intimidating.
“Emperor Karthajin, Supreme Leader of the Kaisarian Empire, Defender of the Nine Gods, Chosen of Napisten, and Ruler of the Crystal Throne, and First Consort, Lady Ella of the House of Perrault,” Tanaca announced.
“Your Majesties, may I present Commander Jaxxlariat t’Semon and Lady Zinnia of the House of Chase. ”
Emperor Karthajin was not what she had expected.
He looked exactly like the Earth image of the devil complete with red skin and small black horns peeking through dark curls.
Other than an elaborately embroidered robe, he didn’t display any signs of his position, but he carried himself with an air of unquestioned authority.
He was younger than she’d expected, and extremely handsome, but she found herself holding her breath as he studied them, suddenly aware of how much power he wielded.
“Welcome to Kaisar,” he said in a deep pleasant voice. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you both.”
She panicked, unable to remember if she was supposed to bow or courtesy or some other gesture. Before she could decide, Jaxx stepped forward and bowed politely.
“Your Majesty,” he said. “We are grateful for your hospitality.”
The Emperor smiled. “And I am delighted to know that the Zathix still exist.” His gaze shifted to her. “You have traveled a long way, Lady Zinnia.”
“Not entirely by choice,” she admitted, then bit her lip, wondering if honesty was the best policy.
“I am sorry about that,” he said, surprising her. “My First Consort is also from your planet.”
Shocked, she looked at the small woman standing quietly next to him and her eyes widened. The First Consort was also much younger than she expected, a very pretty human woman with big blue eyes and an innocent face.
“Welcome, Zinnia,” the First Consort said warmly, and her smile was so genuine that Zinnia finally relaxed.
They had survived slavers and crash landings, ruined cities and religious zealots. They would survive imperial politics too.